Impossible

One time, we were visiting some church members. He was working on a jigsaw puzzle. My Sweetie said she liked working on puzzles, too. So, she goes out and buys a puzzle. A 2,000-piece puzzle! She lays 2,000 pieces out on the dining room table. She sits down to work. I come and stand by the dining room table. 2,000 pieces. Scattered everywhere. Ten minutes go by. I see, Nothing! Fifteen minutes go by. I see, Nothing! I think, "This is Impossible!" I kiss her goodnight and go to bed. She stays up, looking. Looking. For 2 or 3 hours. The next morning, I get up. I see the progress she has made. Progress on the puzzle I called Impossible. The border, put together. The next morning, it's the pair of cardinals. The next morning, the branches, around the pair of cardinals. The next morning, the snow, around the branches, around the pair of cardinals. I had said Impossible! With perseverance, she puts together the Impossible puzzle. I guess it wasn't Impossible, after all. Today is the 25th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks. Thousands dead. The World Trade Center destroyed. The Pentagon damaged. We remember. The tenth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks fell on a Sunday. The Gospel reading for that Sunday was the Gospel reading for this Sunday. Jesus tells us to forgive. Forgive??!! Impossible! I'm not even very good at loving the people I love. And Jesus is telling me to forgive those who have hurt deeply?! Impossible! Then, I remember my Sweetie, sitting at the table. Staring at a mess of 2,000 pieces. Impossible! I believe forgiveness is Impossible. Without God's help, With God's help, with my co-operation (thank you, Sesame Street! "Co-operate!" ) the forgiveness I call Impossible happens. Feel the hurt. Feel the anger. Feel the alone-ness. And, slowly, slowly, let it go. Into God's hands. That Jesus, He's always telling us to do what's Impossible. With God's help, and my co-operation (thank you, Sesame Street!), Impossible becomes Possible. Forgiveness is a miracle that makes Jesus smile!